This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the working environment of Icelandic social service managers. It draws on both quantitative and qualitative data and is focussed on the question of gender. In the first part of the book a variety of explanations are offered to understand how societies define and treat gender differences, as well as a review of the literature related to gender and the working environment. The development of the Icelandic welfare system is discussed and the labour market in Iceland is explored with special emphasis on occupational segregation. Subsequent chapters present the findings of the first research on the working environment of Icelandic social service managers. The book explores the career development of social service managers, their work roles and management styles. It provides detailed evidence of job satisfaction, work stress and work support in the workplace, and the managers' experiences of relations between work and family life. Finally it looks at the effects of female domination on the work environment and attitudes towards men working in the social services.